Wednesday, August 14, 2013

She is the proud mother of two fine young men. Blissfully married to her best
friend, she resides in Wisconsin with her husband, where one son has left the
nest to pursue a college degree and the other is on the cusp of spreading his
wings to take flight. She is currently working on her next novel.

Readers, today I'm interviewing another debut author. Welcome, Sherry.Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.

The characters are very individual and reveal themselves and
their personalities as they are written. I have the ability to feel what others
feel without having the experience. It’s both a gift and a curse.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

Sometimes my son and I talk in character voices to each
other like we are from another country. (And I wonder why he’s pursuing a music
theater/acting degree??) Humph!?

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

When my second son was born, I wrote my first short story.
It was a gift for my Aunt and Uncle. It will never be published but was very important
for me to share my heart with them. He’s since passed away I’m so glad he had a
chance to read it.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I am a fiction junkie. I love mystery but I also love a good
love story. The ones that have characters stay with you and you wonder more
about them … I love that!

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

SIMPLIFY! I don’t
have interest in things. Or fashion for that matter. Everything I buy I ask
myself, “Is this a need or a want?” Nine times out of ten I don’t buy. I also
have a deep faith in God and love spending time in His creation.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

Honestly they come to me along with their personalities.
Very rare do I change a character name once they’ve hit the page.

I only did that once
in all my 30+ books, but the character wouldn’t let me keep calling him the one
name. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising two fine young men, I’m very proud of them. They are
kind and loving. What more could a mother want? Of course I’m also proud that Entrusted is now out. It really is like
having another baby!

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’m a Leo, so I guess I have to say Lion. I’m obsessed with
my hair! Ha!

What is your favorite
food?

The better question would be, what food don’t you like? If
only you could see my growing waistline!

What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Getting Entrusted to from published to READ.
It’s great being a debut author; however what good is it to be a writer that’s
never been read? I haven’t overcome this
yet. … I’d love to hear your tips! Lol!

Join American
Christian Fiction Writers national organization if you haven’t.

Network with other
writers.

Be sure your book is
well-edited.

Follow God’s guidance
in every endeavor.

Tell us about the
featured book.

The book is a work of fiction. It is a novel based on a on a
young single mother who is tested through various relationships and worldly challenges.
Through these challenges her experiences test her faith but ultimately give her
the fortitude to carry through and find love. Yes there is also romance in this
novel. I think readers will be drawn to Entrusted because the novel takes
the characters through tough times which make it applicable and relatable. Many
readers who are parents say it is a must read … the book was written for women,
a bit of a chick-lit. The biggest surprise is that men are enjoying the novel
as well.

Anna
Bertram was not prepared for this. Not after all she had been through. A
mothers love, so deep; wasn’t it her job to protect? Anna had poured her heart
and soul into raising Justin. When he unexpectedly dropped out of her life, she
was left devastated.

Was it fate?

A
chance meeting with a young soldier on a beach in Maine, who had left a
pocket-sized book in the sand, a photograph tucked neatly inside. The
photograph portrayed two soldiers in Army fatigues, one being the soldier, the
other her son Justin. With this clue, Anna is desperate to find the soldier who
could possibly lead to her estranged son. Is it too late to reclaim the close
relationship they once shared?

Mistakenly
Anna believed she was responsible for her sons future. In her zealous search to
reunite, she finds the unexpected, love and forgiveness. Journey with Anna, as
she learns to let go and surrender to divine destiny. And give thanks for the
gift that she was entrusted.

Please give us the first
page of the book.

Prologue

It could be Justin. “He’d be Justin’s age,” Anna
contemplated while perched on a jagged rock on the coast of Maine, her face turned to avoid the sun. Her
eyes followed a young man in a baseball cap playing with his dog. She watched
as he tossed the stick out to sea and knelt down in anticipation for the black Labrador to come and drop it at his feet. She shook her
head to ignore the thought.

Anna breathed the salty air and let it fully fill her lungs.
The gentle misty breeze tickled her cheeks and wrapped her golden curls about
her face. Since Anna had been a child, this was her escape place, the place
that would summon peace and surround like a warm hug. It was the only place she
could live in the exact minute; take everything around her in, the closest
thing to heaven on earth. Anna was glad she had made the trip to experience
this moment. She could almost hear her own childlike giggle as pictures formed
in her mind. She remembered her older sister, Holly, jumping the rocks, her
wind whipping her dark mass of curls, being careful not to fall in the tide
pools that lingered between the sharp rocks. Holly’s tender olive eyes had
twinkled as she reached out her hand for Anna’s grasp.

Anna smiled as she reflected on the moment. She could almost
feel Holly with her again. The memory quickly faded as the tide receded from
shore and pulled the stones along with it.

Anna watched as a large wave pounced and sprayed the
children playing in the rocks below and heard their squeals of delight. She saw
him again. “It really could be Justin.” Every young man who looked like a
recent high school graduate could be her son.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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Single Moms are my heroes, doing a job day after day, with very little help and encouragement or relief. Hope to win and read your book and trust you'll do well as a novelist. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com